Addiction treatment centers are protective environments. They help to keep you separated from the substance you crave (for example alcohol or drugs) until you are free of the craving. At some point, however, you will need to move on. A high-quality addiction treatment center will help you to do so safely, this may involve assisting you to find new housing.
Deciding if you need new housing
If your housing was part of the problem behind your addiction, then you probably need to find somewhere else to live. If it wasn’t, then it may or may not be in your best interests to move on from it. Making a fresh start can sound good in theory. In fact, for some people, it is exactly the right choice in practice. For others, however, it may be better to stay in their current home.
This decision often hinges on the sort of support (if any), you can expect from people around you. If you already have a robust network of family and/or friends then it might be very much in your best interests to stay near them. Maintaining your existing connections locally is likely to be a whole lot easier than establishing a new support network somewhere else.
On the other hand, if you don’t have a robust support network where you used to live, then moving on could be the right choice for you. It could help to prevent you from going back to old haunts and sliding back into old habits.
Choosing the right housing option
The first question you need to consider is where you want to live. For many people, their choice of location will have to be guided by family considerations and the availability of work. Even so, there is often a selection of potential locations and you’ll need to consider the pros and cons of each.
The second question you need to consider is what type of housing you want. For example, do you want to transition into a sober-living house or are you ready for a fully-independent living (with support)? If the latter, what type of property would be best for you? Could you flat-share or do you need your place to be totally your own? If the latter, how big does it need to be?
Finding your new home
Finding a new home before leaving an addiction treatment center is much the same as finding a new home at any other time. Depending on your situation, you may have a bit more paperwork to fill out than usual. For example, you may want to apply for Section 8 housing.
The good news is that being able to say you have completed a high-quality rehab program can open doors for you, both literally and figuratively. In particular, it can reassure landlords (both private and social), that they are now safe to accept you as a tenant. Having this point of reference can be vital in securing you the sort of home you want to live in and can be happy (and clean) in.
